USC.edu
School of Philosophy

Jen Foster

Ph.D. Student
Email jennifnh@usc.edu

Education

  • B.A. Philosophy, English, and Spanish, West Virginia University, 2016

  • Other Employment

    • Consultant, USC Writing Center, 08/2017
    • Teaching Assistant, University of Southern California, 08/2017
    • Consultant, Eberly Writing Center, West Virginia University, 01/2014-05/2016

  • Summary Statement of Research Interests

    Philosophy of language, metaethics, social and political philosophy, feminist philosophy, aesthetics.

    I’m particularly interested in the nature and social function of normative discourse, especially in political and aesthetic domains. Much of this discourse involves figurative language, especially metaphor. My current research concerns how figurative language works – semantically, pragmatically  politically. I am especially interested in how it effects linguistic and conceptual change, and how it can transmit (and erode) social norms and values. In this vein, I also work on the semantics of slurs, and their relationship to other derogatory and nonderogatory evaluative expressions.

    • Michael McCann Prize in History of Philosophy, “‘Persuade-or-Obey’ as Terms of Agreement: Reconciling Plato’s Crito and Apology,” USC Philosophy Department,
    • General Education Teaching Assistant Award,